"VAN" (Sports Desk - 05.11.2025) :: When Usain Bolt walked on to the stage at Tokyo’s Ultimate Media Party, the crowd erupted as if reliving the thunderclaps of Beijing and London. But this time, the lightning belonged not to his legs, but to a new spark for athletics. Named the sport’s first Ultimate Legend, Bolt passed the torch – symbolically, if not literally – to a new generation preparing to redefine what it means to be the best.
The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, taking place in Budapest on 11-13 September 2026, promises to reshape track and field’s identity: three days, no heats, no second chances – just the world’s finest athletes competing head-to-head for the title of Ultimate Champion. For Bolt, whose name has long been shorthand for greatness, the innovation feels not like a departure but a long-overdue evolution.
“Every other sport has been developing and changing over the years,” Bolt said, his trademark grin turning reflective. “To see track and field moving in that direction and trying something different – it’s wonderful. This will be a big deal; a title people will respect for years to come.”
It’s an evolution built on boldness, both in design and spirit. World pole vault record-holder Mondo Duplantis, announced as the first Ultimate Star, has been among the loudest champions of the idea.
“I’m super excited about it,” he said. “It’s bold, action-packed, and honestly, it’s a much-needed step for athletics. I believe in the product because it gives us a chance to present our sport in a new, exciting way.”
For the Swede, who already holds multiple Olympic and world gold medals, Budapest represents more than another title – it’s a chance to carve his name into a new stratum of history.
“If I win, I’ll have something that even Usain won’t have,” Duplantis said with a smile. “It’s going to be the pinnacle of our season. Every athlete will go into it with pride, because it’s not just about yourself – you’re representing your country, your sport, and what comes next.”
That “next” might be precisely what the sport has been searching for: a stage built for global audiences with shorter formats, clear narratives and higher stakes. As Bolt put it: “It’s about bringing the best of the best together – making it easier to watch, more exciting, and showing the world what we really have.”
Multiple Olympic and world triple jump champion Christian Taylor agrees. Though retired from competition, his enthusiasm for innovation is undimmed.
“As a former athlete, I’m jealous,” he laughed. “For entertainment, fan engagement – this is fantastic. We can’t keep doing the same things. We have to try, and this is a great effort. It’s going to be a historic show.”
Taylor also sees opportunity in the structure itself – a season built around a single, dramatic climax. “It gives athletes something to be excited for,” he said. “To peak for that moment. Financially, it’s huge too. But more than that, the title of Ultimate Champion – that’s powerful.”
Among those already assured of a place in Budapest is Dominica’s Thea LaFond, who was crowned Olympic triple jump champion in Paris. For her, the Ultimate Championship promises not only competition, but connection.
“I think it’s the accessibility,” she explained. “It allows fans to connect with us more easily – to see us as people with families, with stories. And I love the one-and-done format. It’s pressure, but it’s fun – for us and for the crowd.”
LaFond also praised the event’s financial structure, calling it “priceless.” “We’ve had times when athletes weren’t paid what they’re worth,” she said. “Knowing that you’ll give your all and be guaranteed your reward – it changes everything.”
Sally Pearson, the 2012 Olympic 100m hurdles champion and now coach, echoed that sentiment from a generational perspective. “I wish I’d had something like this,” she admitted. “It’s a sign of respect – to bring only the very best together. The world is changing fast, and our sport has to keep up. The next generation will be the ones driving it.”
And perhaps that’s the ultimate message of the Ultimate Party: a celebration not just of nostalgia, but of renewal. Bolt, Duplantis, LaFond, Taylor, Pearson – legends and stars in the same room, united by a single idea. Track and field is not done evolving.
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